As a veteran and IT pro with over 15 years in the industry, I can say that there's a lot of similarity between being in the military and serving as a leader in IT.
On the surface, they look different. One is shaped by service, mission, and accountability under pressure. The other is shaped by systems, strategy, operations, and leading people through constant change. But beneath the surface, both demand many of the same things: discipline, trust, ownership, and the ability to stay steady when the stakes are high.
Leadership is not about being "the big cheese", a mere slogan, or great intentions. Leadership is about consistency. What does the leader expect, what will the team repeat, and what becomes standard over time?
I believe culture is built through a simple framework.
In both military life and information technology, process is key to delivering success. But the process is not just about following rules with a paper and pen. Process translates into clarity for those going through the system. It helps create a smoother system in the long run by ensuring that everyone knows how to communicate with each other, respond in emergencies, properly escalate issues, support their colleagues, and act with responsibility. When a good process is repeated enough, it becomes a habit.
Habits then shape behavior.
And behavior, repeated over time, becomes culture.
Culture isn't what is posted on the wall in frames or discussed in meeting rooms. It's what people actually do when systems are down, the stakes are high, time is of the essence, and there is no room for idle chatter or excuses.
Do people take ownership or point fingers?
Do they stay disciplined or cut corners?
Do they protect the mission or protect themselves?
That is where leadership shows up.
My time in the military taught me that discipline is not about being controlling for the sake of being controlling; it is about establishing high standards that need to be met in easy times and hard times alike. In the 15+ years I have been working in the IT industry, this lesson has held. Strong teams are not built around personalities and hype, but around trust, accountability, expectations, and execution.
As a veteran and IT leader, I can confidently say that my experience informs my perspective on IT leadership. That's because, in both roles, leadership is about building something. Specifically, in IT, it's about building a successful team, but you don't start with one. Instead, you start with process, create habits, and enforce behaviors. Culture follows.
That is not a theory.
That is experience.
That is leadership.